Hoi An Beach Stay

Extend your trip in Vietnam with a 4-night stay on the stunning beach just outside Hoi An, a beautifully authentic town where hundreds of tailors line the narrow low-rise streets and riverside cafes overlook the waterside edge.

Tour Itinerary

1

UK to Hanoi

Depart the UK on your scheduled, overnight flight to Hanoi.

2

Hanoi

On arrival in Hanoi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, a walking tour of this vibrant city begins at the Ho Chi Minh Complex where the father of modern-day Vietnam declared the nation's independence in 1945. Visit sites including the Presidential Palace built by French colonialists in the early 20th century, Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House and the One Pillar Pagoda. Explore the courtyards and pavilions of the Confucian Temple of Literature then return to the lively Old Quarter to explore this bustling commercial centre on a cyclo, a three-wheel bicycle taxi. In the evening, experience the Vietnamese arts at the thousand-year-old Water Puppet Show.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

3

Hanoi to Mai Chau - Average 2 - 2.5 hours of walking including breaks

After breakfast, take a scenic drive through the Vietnamese countryside to the rural city of Mai Chau, passing rice paddies and sugar cane fields. Enjoy lunch in a traditional Thai stilt house then begin your walk to Pom Coong village where you'll have the chance to explore the village. Follow gravel tracks and small paths used by the locals and soak in the verdant, rugged mountain scenery as you observe daily village life. In the afternoon, check into your lodge and enjoy dinner later this evening.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

4

Mai Chau - Average 4 hours of walking including breaks

Follow flat, local roads on today's walk to Xo Village, passing tropical rainforests and rippling corn fields as you journey through the Mai Chau Valley. Gain fascinating insight into local life as you encounter villagers herding buffalo, tilling the fields and logging. Arrive in Xo Village for lunch then continue on for another hour, taking in incredible scenery and lush greenery before arriving at your endpoint where your bus will carry you back to Mai Chau. Arrive in Mai Chau in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day at leisure.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

5

Mai Chau to Don Village - Average 1.5 hours of walking including breaks

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a breath-taking mountain pass which offers panoramic views of the valley. Pu Luong, meaning 'highest peak of the village', is an area of outstanding beauty boasting palm-clad hills, terraced rice paddies and small, sleepy settlements. On arrival at your retreat nestled in the middle of the reserve, check in and enjoy lunch and free time for you to enjoy your tranquil setting. In the afternoon, travel by bus to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of the mighty water wheels dotted along the river's length. Get an up-close look at the handmade bamboo water wheels and discover how water is moved from the river to these skilfully crafted aqueducts. Continue on to a local fisherman's house and board a river raft for a guided trip along the Cham River. Sail at a leisurely pace down the river before arriving at the Tan Lap Bridge, where towering trees rise from the river to form a tunnel of greenery. Transfer back to your hotel for dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

6

Don Village - Average 4.5 hours of walking including breaks

This morning, descend into the beautiful valley facing the retreat. Walk past cascading rice terraces and along small paths shrouded in vegetation as a picturesque village reveals itself at the base of a towering mountain. Continue to the base of the valley, weaving between roads, farmland, wild fields and ponds until you reach a scenic spot where you'll enjoy a picnic lunch. After your meal, enjoy some free time to explore the village and observe local daily life and customs. Journey onward to your pick-up point for your transfer back to the retreat.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

7

Don Village - Average 4 hours of walking including breaks

Transfer to Bang Village, the starting point of your walk to Kho Muong Village. Set out on your walk, reaching an excellent vantage point which provides magnificent views. Carry onward into the village which surrounded by a huge mountain range and visit a local family to learn more about their lifestyle and culture. After a picnic lunch and a stroll around the village, visit the nearby bat cave where you'll have the chance to explore its depths and encounter its resident bats if you choose (proper shoes and torch are required). Journey onward through a picturesque natural reserve as you head to Dong Dieng village where you will be picked up and transfer back to your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

8

Don Village to Ninh Binh

After breakfast, a coach carries you to the province of Ninh Binh, home to some of Vietnam's most impressive limestone scenery. En route, stop to take photographs of local villages and spectacular rural landscapes before lunch at a local restaurant and check-in at your hotel. This afternoon, board a traditional 'sampan' wooden boat and glide through the water, admiring the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields on the water's edge, giving rise to the area's other name - 'Halong on Land'. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure for you to explore the area around your hotel or relax before tonight's farewell dinner marks the end of your Vietnamese adventure.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

9

Ninh Binh to the UK

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, or continue on to your extension.

Breakfast

10

Hanoi to Hoi An

Fly to Hoi An and transfer to your chosen Beach Hotel

Breakfast

11

Hoi An

Relax at your chosen Beach Hotel

Breakfast

14

Hoi An to the UK

Transfer to the Airport for your flight to the UK.

Breakfast

Your Meals

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner will be taken in local Vietnamese restaurants or at your accommodation. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

Important Information

Visas

Until 30th June 2021, a visa is not required for stays up to 15 days. From the 1st July 2021 and for longer stays a visa is required for entry into Vietnam. You can apply for an e-visa online at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. The cost of the visa is approximately USD$25 and will take roughly 3 working days. Alternatively, we work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa for you on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury holidays'. The cost of the visa is £105. The visas take around 10 working days to issue and are only valid for 3 months from the date of entry. We, therefore, recommend that you apply for your visa 8 weeks before travel, however, please be aware that your passport will be required for the application so make sure that you will not need it during this time. Alternatively, you can visit the Embassy of Vietnam in London: 12-14 Victoria Road, London, W8 5RD.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

Payment

If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of £49pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

Flight Information

All flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines. Each passenger is entitled to 20kg of hold luggage & hand luggage of 5kg not exceeding 56cm x 36cm x 23cm in size. Flight times are for guidance only & subject to change.

Health and Vaccinations

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Physical Accessibility

During this walking holiday walks will average 2-3 hours daily. Walks will be along varied, flat, level terrain, with some inclines and will range from village trails through the countryside to rainforest walks. This holiday requires a reasonable level of fitness. If you are in any doubt as to the tours suitability, please speak to your GP as soon as possible as this is a physical holiday.

Group Size

There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

Tour Guide

Your stay in Hoi An is not escorted by a tour guide.

Currency Information

The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, known as VND. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. US Dollars are also widely accepted in Vietnam should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you.

Personal Expenses

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £100 - £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour, depending on how much of a bargain-hunter you are!

Additional Expenses

Visas

Insurance

Tips

Any meals not specified in your itinerary

Travelling Alone?

Unfortunately we do not have any places with no single supplements on this tour, however if you are happy to share with another passenger of the same gender then let us know at the time of booking and we will endeavour to find you a travelling partner.

What to expect

Fact File

Currency

Dong

Average Flying time

12 hours

Min/Max temperature

16 °C / 30 °C

Spoken languages

Vietnamese

When to go

There is a distinct summer and winter season in North Vietnam, Hanoi and surrounding areas. The cool but mostly dry winter lasts from November to April when temperatures are around 17 to 22 degrees with the coldest months being January through to March. Summer is from May until October where it can be hot and humid with high rainfall. July to September are often the wettest months. A light rain jacket or small umbrella are recommended year-round.

Hanoi

Mai Chau

Ninh Binh

What to pack

Sunscreen

Insect repellent

Hat

Personal first aid kit

Camera and charger

An electric plug converter

Loo paper for public WCs

Binoculars

Sunglasses

Water Bottle

Anti-bacterial hand wash

Rucksack to use during walks

Waterproofs

Fleece

Water bottle

Customer Rating:

10/10

Rachel Hadwin

4th Mar 2019

All of the hotels were lovely and clean and staff very friendly. We had a fantastic time and would not hesitate to do it all again. Our guild Vinnie was great and was very informative about local history and people.

Overall Satisfaction

Value for money

Customer Rating:

10/10

Maureen Fofanah

11th Nov 2018

The tour went smooth, the guide was excellent, knowledgeable, entertaining and kept us safe, pointing out thinks we should and not do. Mercury holidays provided a well thought out holiday with no problems . As the first group to go on this holiday I would say it was well worth the money. The experiences were great, the hotels were exceptional , the spread and diversity of Vietnam was all included in this holiday. I must say my best memories were of the walking holiday, trekking up and down inclines, experiencing the lives of the people in the mountains. The chaos of Han Hoi , the mopeds , with 3 or 4 people on the back and the secret of crossing the road. I am sure you have plenty of tour guides which to choose from but Vinnie was exceptional able to be the best go between , between cultures East and West. I would recommend this holiday again and again 5 star
All the hotels were exceptional especially the retreat in the hills, forget its name but had panoramic views of the mountains and paddy fields. The little boutique hotel in Hoi An was superb with the manager Paul taking an interest in us , enjoying an evening with the 3 of us who decided to stay at the resort. The other hotels were good no complaints. He wanted to know about the tour and who we were travelling with as he got the booking through an agent. We gave him a copy of Mercury brochure as he wanted to know how his hotel was described.

Palm Garden Hoi An Resort

The Beach Little Boutique Hotel and Spa

Mai Chau Ecolodge

Pu Luong Retreat

Hidden Charm Hotel and Resort Ninh Binh

Other Extensions

Hanoi and Halong Bay

Tour Route

London

Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Mekong Cruise

Saigon

Hanoi

Halong Bay Cruise

Hanoi

London

Combine the famous sites of Hanoi such as the Ho Chi Minh Complex and One Pillar Pagoda with an overnight luxury cruise on the awe-inspiring Halong Bay, passing local towns, fascinating intricate limestone formations and visiting the impressive Thien Cahn Son Cave.

Facing extinction in the 1980s as large sections of its habitat were destroyed, the giant panda population of China has grown in leaps and bounds due to sustained efforts to save this lovable creature.

Contact address

Travel Advice and Safety Abroad

For latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information click hereThis advice can change so please check regularly for updates.